Endless loop type cutter chain



Sept. 24, 1957 J. F. JoY 2,807,452

I ENDLESS LOOP TYPE CUTTER CHAIN Filed March 24, 1951 4,2 ftd/27 461/ fi# ff f2 229 g g@ y ZZorzzey.

l 2,867,452l y, ENDLEss LooP TYPE CUTTER CHAIN Joseph F. Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa., lassignor to Joy Mauufac; turing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corparatton or Pennsylvania This invention relates to cutterV chains, and more particularly to an endless loop type cutter chain for cutting a kerf in an upright orbital pathin the mineral of a mine vein to form a core .of material to be dislodged.

In endless loop type cutter chains of known types the chain is usually guided for orbital circulation about the margin of an open-centered guide frame whereby a core of mineral may be cut from a solid mine vein, with the core extending freelyvinto the open center of the guide frame in suchposition as to be dislodged in fragments from the solid vein as cutting progresses. In such cutter chains great diiiiculty has been encountered due to space restrictions in :obtaining the desired ruggedness and simplicity in design so as to enable the chain to stand up under the relatively severe conditions of service. kThe present invention contemplatesimprovements over known types of loop cutter chains in that not `only is ruggedness and simplicity in design, but also compactness, are obtained, resulting in a cutter chain well adapted for its intended purpose. y

A primary object of the present invention is accordingly to provide an endless loop type'cutter` chain which is simple, rugged and compact in design. Another object is to provide an improved endless cutter chain having an improved construction and arrangement of the chain elements and their cooperating guiding' means whereby the inherent weaknesses of known types of chains are to a large extent, overcome.` These and other objects and advantages of the 'invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appearin the course of the ensuing description. s

This application is a continuation in part `of my copending application, Serial No. 194,259, filed November 6,

In the accompanying drawing there are shown forl purposes of illustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a Vfragmentary plan view, with parts in horizontal section, illustrating a loop type 'cutterchain constructed in'accordance with aipreferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in'front elevation of the cutter chain shown in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 -is a cross section taken on line 3-3'of Fig. l and showinga portion of the associated guide frame.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the chain elements of the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 `is a fragmentary frontv elevational view of the chain shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 'is..a cross section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5 and showing a portion of the associated guide frame. Fig. 8 is a perspective'view of one of the chain link elements of the modified embodiment.

In both ,illustrative embodiments of the invention, the

`nited Statesy Patent O ice ' inclusive, an endless loop type cutter chain generally designated 1 is guided for orbital circulation about the margin of a guide frame generally designated 2. The rectangular, open-centered guide frame includes a guide member 3 supported by a suitable frame structure 4 and having a guideway 5 extending about its margin and open-4 ing forwardly through the forward side of the guide member. The guideway is of generally T-shape in cross section and includes opposed rectangular guide channels 6 provided at the head of the T and parallel plane side guiding surfaces 7 disposed at the leg of the T, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.k The endless loop cutter, which travels in a rectangular orbital path about the guide frame, is in the form of a pivoted link chain comprising a series of cutter blocks 8 pivotally connected by intermediate strap links 9. As shown most clearly i'n Fig. 1, the chain blocks each comprises an outer or front plate 10 and an inner or rear plate 11, the plates arranged in parallel relation, and the inner plate having parallel horizontal hinge pins 12 formed integral therewith. The strap links 9 pivotally engage these hinge pins at`13 intermediate the parallel plates. The hinge pins extend forwardly from the rear plates and have reduced forward end portions 14 which provide forwardly facing shoulders 15 with which the rear surfaces 1'6 of the outer plates l10 abut, so that the hinge pins fixedly space the inner and outer plates of each block. The reduced end portions of the hinge pins are threaded at 17 and nuts 18 engage the threads of these reduced pin portions to hold the plates of each block in rigid spaced relation with the intermediate strap links pivotally engaging the 'enlarged intermediate portions of the pins. The outer plates 10 have lateral socketed lugs 19 in which cutter bits or teeth 19 are mounted, and this lug and bit structure may be similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 57,047, iiled October 28, 1948 which has since been abandoned.

In this illustrative embodiment the inner or rear plates 11 of the chain blocks have rearwardly projecting teeth 20 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, are engaged by the teeth 21 `of a large spur gear or rotary toothed element 22, in the manner fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 194,259 mentioned above. This rotary toothed member projects forwardly within a horizontal recess 23 in the guide frame so that the teeth thereof may have driving engagement with the teeth 20 on the endless chain. The bit -or tooth supporting lugs 19 are disposed in diiferent angular positions on the front plates 10, and some of the lugs are double while others are single, and by so arranging the lugs, the bits on the different blocks are staggered or laced in such manner that they may cut a kerf in the mine vein `of sutlicient width -to receive the guide frame.

As shown in Fig. 3, the side flanges 24 of the rear plates 11 of the blocks slidingly engage the guide channels 6, the sides of the strap links 9 slidingly engage the guiding surfaces 7 and the flanges 25 of the front plates 10 overlie and ride against the front surface of the guide frame. The teeth 20 on the rear plates 11 of the block project rearwardly into the recess 23 into engagement with the teeth of the drive gear.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 to 8l 3 inclusive, the cutter chain comprises a series of chain blocks 26 pivotally 4connected by intermediate straps links 27. Each chainblock comprises an inner or rear plate 28 anda front or outer plate 2,9, the plates arranged in parallel relation and the front plate having parallel horizontal hinge pins 30integral therewith and with which the strap links pivotally engage. rearwardly from the front plates and have rearward reduced portions 31 providing inwardly facing shoulders 32 with which the `rear plates abut for xedly spacing the'inner and outer plates apart and the reduced portions `are threaded at 33 for engagement with nuts 34 for rigidly securing the inner and outer plates in spaced relation. The intermediate strap 'links 27 pivotally' engage the enlarged intermediate portions of the pins, as shown inFig. 5. The strap links have circular portions 35 extending between parallel front and rear link portions 36 and 37 and separated by spaces 38 which are adapted to receive the teeth of a drive sprocket 39 shown in broken lines in Fig. 6, and the sprocket teeth drivinglyengage the rear surfaces of the circular link portions 35 to drive the cutter chain. The outer plates 29 have lateral lugs 40 which have sockets 41 for receiving the double-ended, reversible cutter bits or teeth 42. These cutter'bits have angularly disposed cutting portions 43 and the inactive cutting portions are received in the sockets 4l with the active cutting portions projecting outwardly and forwardly' inclined, `as shown in Fig. 5. The bits have rear lugs 44 which rest on the outer surfaces of the lugs 40 to limit the projection of the bit within the lug sockets thereby to provide a predetermined bit gauge. Threaded within the forward portions of the lugs are conventional set screws 45 which engage the inactive cutting portions of `the bits for firmly securing the` bits in `position on the lugs. -jEach of the cutting portions of the bit may be provided with a hard metal, wearresisting cutting point 46. This lug and bit structure is fully disclosed in my copcnding appli-cation, Serial No. 57,046, tiled October 23, 1948 which has since issued as Patent No. 2,759,628. The bitor tooth supporting lugs` 40, as in the preferred embodiment, are arranged in staggered relation on the different blocks to provide for proper lacing of the bits.

The guide frame about which the cutter chain travels in a rectangular orbital path comprises, as shown in Fig. 7, parallel plates 47 separated by spacing elements 48 and held in rigid assembled relation as by rivets 49,`

and these plates and spacing elements cooperate to provide a guideway 50 of generally T-shape in cross section. This guidcway has parallel channels 51 at the t head of the T and parallel plane sidewalls 52 disposed at the `leg of the T. Extending longitudinally at the inner` side or bottom of the guideway is a longitudinal recess 53 in which the projecting threaded portions of the hinge pins and the tightening nuts 34 move during circulation of the chain. The side edges of the rear plates 28 and the flanges 54 of the rear portions 37 of the strap links are guided in the channels 51, and the llanges` 55 of the front portions 36 of the strap links overlie and slidingly engage the forward face of the guide frame, overlie and rest against the front flanges` 55 of the strap links, in the manner shown.

t In both embodiments of the invention, the rear plates of the blocks are` slidingly guided within the inner channels of the T-shaped guideway and the outer plates ride against the outer periphery or front face of the guide frame exteriorly of the guideway, so that the chain is firmly supported and guided as it circulates about Vits guideway on the guide frame. By forming the hinge pins integral with one of the plates of the chain blocks andby firmly clamping the cooperating plates to shoulders on the hinge pins, to hold the plates in rigid spaced relation, `an extremely rugged, compact and simple design The hinge pins project The anges of the front plates 29 of the blocks` is obtained. Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the afrt.

While there are in this application specifically described two forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may bc further modied and embodied in `various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire totsecure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In an endless loop type cutter chain of the kind adapted for circulation about an opencentered guide frame, a series of cutter blocks pivotally connected by intermediate strap links, each of said blocks comprising parallel inner and outer plates at least one of which pro vides a guide portion for the chain and has engagement with the guideway on the guide frame, one of said plates having parallel hinge pins integral therewith and project ing therefrom with the outer end portions of said pins tted in bores in the other plate, means engaging said outer end portions of said pins and said other plate for securing said plates against lateral separation, and cutter bit supporting lugs integral with one of said plates and projecting from the forward face of the chain, `said cutter supporting lugs being so arranged that the cutters cut a slot in a solid mine vein of a width suicient to re ceive the guide frame as the latter is advanced toward the face, one of said plates being disposed within the frameguideway and the other plate being disposed exteriorly of the frame-guideway and overlying the outer edge of said guide frame with the cutters projecting outwardly from said frame.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strap links have inner lateral flanges slidingly engaging said guideway and outer lateral auges overlying and riding against the exterior periphery of said frame exteriorly of said guideway. l

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate which carries a bit supporting lug has flanges, overlying and abutting said outer anges of said strap links.

4. In an endless loop type cutter chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strap links each includes inner and outer portions abutting the inner surfaces of said plates and separated by transverse circular hollow portions having bores which receive the hinge pins, said inner link portions having lateral flanges providing guiding surfaces engageable with the guideway of a guide frame and said outer link portions having lateral flanges adapted to overlie and providing guiding surfaces slidingly engageable with the guide frame. l

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said outer plates of said cutter blocks have flanges overlying and resting against the flanges of said outer link portions.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said inner plates` of said cutter blocks have lateral flanges disposed inwardly of said flanges of said inner link portions and providing guiding surfaces likewise engageable with the guideway of the guide frame. p p

7. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said transverse hollow portions of said strap links have spaces therebetween for receiving the teeth of a driving sprocket whereby the sprocket teeth may engage the rear surfaces of said hollow portions to etfect driving of the chain.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,003 Lechner Nov. 7, 1882 586,956 Barker et al. July 27, 1897 689,242 Stutt Dec. 17, 1901 694,533 Cross Mar. 4, 1902 958,475 Cannon May 17, 1910 1,325,030 Morgan Dec. 16, 1919 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Muller July 13, 1920 Mangels Feb. 24, 1925 Holmes May 25, 1926 Francis Feb. 17, 1931 Robertson. July 28, 1936 6 Jeffrey Ian. 26, 1937 Joy Sept. 21, 1937 Lewis Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 28, 1936 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1891 

